Drive Power Past Legends in Extra Innings
April 20, 2015 - South Atlantic League (SAL1)
Greenville Drive News Release
Lexington, KY - The Greenville Drive (5-6) spent the final two innings of Monday night's game against the Lexington Legends (5-6) playing long ball, and it paid off in a 10-inning, 4-3 victory in the series opener at Whitaker Bank Ballpark.
Trailing 3-2 in the top of the ninth inning, Mauricio Dubon led off the frame by smacking a game-tying solo homer to center field against Torey Deshazier (1-1).
One inning later, it was Michael Chavis's turn to go deep, as he drove a leadoff blast over the wall in left field to give the Drive the lead and knock Deshazier out of the game.
Kuehl McEachern improved to 2-0 by throwing a pair of scoreless innings to seal the win.
The Drive took a 2-0 lead in the first two innings against Lexington starter Pedro Fernandez. After walks to Dubon and Jordan Procyshen with one out, Nick Longhi lined a single to center to score a run.
In the second, Joseph Monge led off with a single, moved to second on Derek Miller's single, advanced to third on a passed ball and came home on a Fernandez wild pitch.
The Legends tied up the game at two in the sixth inning as Carlos Garcia hit a one-out double and Alfredo Escalera followed with a two-run homer left field.
Escalera struck again in the bottom of the eighth by smacking his second homer of the game to give the Legends a short-lived lead.
Despite earning a no-decision, Drive starter Michael Kopech was outstanding, hurling five scoreless innings and allowing two hits while striking out four and not issuing a walk.
Longhi led the Greenville offense with three hits, while Chavis and Monge added two hits apiece. Escalera and Garcia each had a pair of hits for Lexington.
The series continues in Lexington on Tuesday night at 7:05 PM. RH Ty Buttrey (0-0, 3.60) gets the start for the Drive, and the Legends will send LH Matt Tenuta (1-1, 4.50) to the hill.
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